Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-22
DAILY HERALD.
Enterprisinw Journalisn,.


journalism, and their probable effect
upon public tastes and morals. Its
observations are summed up in this
"The extraordinary disproportion
constantly existing between the I'M
portance Of topic and the space de-
voted to it must strike every newspa-
per reader of ordinary intelligence.
It is not 40 much that graver subjects
are altogether neglected, as that
frivolous, stupid or objectional themes
are thrust into absurd prominence by
the side of affairs of weightiest mo-
ment. This deplorable tendency is
observable in such expensive luxuries
rs cable dispatches-not the sham
messages manifestly concocted in this
city, but those which bear internal
evidence of genuineness, and which
cost money.
A cable dispatch in a New York
newspaper often reads like page
from London society journal-the
emptiest and most contemplate OF
periodical publications. In the treat
ment OF domestic news the same want
of proportion, the same downward ten
dency is observable. The space occu-
pied by trivialities and indecencies is
preposterous. Whole columns are de-
voted to the vulgar horrors OF the Po-
lice Court, the sayings and doings OF
prize fighters, the junketings OF the
lowest order of politicians, the drunken
frolics of some worthless broker, the
adventures of miserable variety act
ress, the elopement of a stableman,
L. E.xhfe, and nf hnr
kind of low vice and profligacy. And
day by day the ofiense grows ranker
Only short time ago no newspaper
with the slightest pretense to respect
ability would have dared to print a
line of the impurity with which, in
these latter days, whole pages are de-
filed. The editors have even crossed
the sea in search of denominations
greater than any yet exposed in our
own Courts of Justice, and have pub
lished the details here, poisoning the
moral atmosphere of the whole coun-
try
1t is apparent that looseness OF
morals and loosening of moral obll-
cations have spread upon the wings OF
sensational journalism. 1t is not pos
sible to maintain the purities and sim
plicities of life against the influence
of a Press which gives the most sem
sational and salacious treatment to
what has come to be regarded as news.
The suggestion begins in the head
lines, which are set up like painted
signs over places of infamy. The
more breadth they have the greater
the enterprise. Trivial vulgarities and
minor or major offenses against NOR
atty have the place of honor in the
sensational paper. No opportunity is
neglected to sneer at slow and plain
people, or to grid at old-fashioned no.
fions of duty. The fallen and degraded
are put in the guise of heroes of crime.
No details of Offense against chastity
are omitted. The weaknesses and
follies of poor human nature are
paraded as if they were the
sole objects of interest. The
relations of men and women the
most innocent and upright, fall under
the general prurient suspicion that is
kept alive by the press. 1t has come
to be regarded as no longer possible
that there ould be pure social asso-
(lablOIi Vi lIlOlclSlNC
the more circumspect and upright the
walk or conversation, the greater
reason does the sensationist see for
suspicion. To the press the pure are
no longer pure, they are merely sly.
Ii is "business' to find them out.
Charged falsely with improperly of
conduct, their reticence and shrinking
are assumed to be the confusion Of
guilt. j.,
When wrongs like this are inflicted
ii is useless to seek reparation. They
may kill, or they may be suffered in
silence; in either case the victim is
treated as guilty.
The continent has recently been
treated to sample of this style of
journalism. A mother goes into re-
treat with her sick, perhaps dying
infant. Her own strength shattered,
her heart is wrung by recollection OF
the loss of other children. While she
keeps her painful vigils over her child
the press breaks out with the news
that she has eloped with her husband s
friend. The paper which printed the
lie and put it upon the wires did not
stop to verify or disprove the story, as
il could have done in half hours
time and at cost of one dollar. The
story was scandal. 1t involved the
members of an honorable service and
struck at well-known families. 1t had
a value in the sensational market, and
80 an editor with sons and daughters
of his own, and with family honor and
good name, dear to him as the apple
of his eye, with indecent haste put
the thorn OF "a cruel slander in the pill
low of his neighbor, and sent the iron
into the heart of mother whose
strained anxieties were counting the
weak pulses of her baby.
Such journalism is foul and un-
natural wrong. 1t is worse crime
than murder committed in hand-to-
hand conflict, with the right of self
defense. at least, reserved to its victim.
Yet it is an offense daily committed in
some form or other by the great pa
pers" which cater to every low instinct
of the human heart.
No man who values the morals of
his family permits another to enter
its charmed circle daily and in the
presence of his children repeat such
beastly social gossip or utter such racy
descriptions of the details of actual
crime as the sensational press brings
to that same circle every day.
We unhesitatingly say that the
press does more harm than would be
wrought by giving the same freedom
to the individual. 1t is difficult for
innocence to look vicious experience
in the eye and listen to verbal impro-
prieties, just as it is difficult to read
aloud to another in unshaded voice
that which is read to ones self with
out a single safeguard set up by shame
or modesty. SO it comes to pass that
tales which would revolt the listener
and leave behind only a sense of dis
gust, are silently read with avidity,
:ai- ..s.if .ax..tactinar I,IIrity off liiard